Heat-processing machine for sheets and boards



Sept. 16, 1930. .13. A. STEVENS 1,775,950

HEAT PROCESSING MACHINE FOR SHEETS AND BOARDS Filed Aug- 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 '5 '7 i. g l I l V 31 j 5 II II I] l] `Il II Il Il I A I 76/5 ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1930. J. A. STEVENS 1,775,950

HEAT PROCESSING MACHINE FOR SHEETS AND BOARDS Filed vAug- 14. 192e 5 sheets-sheet 2 Y Q 727IZIVENTOR 3 BYO 52606@ /ZSATTORNEYS SePf- 16, 1930- J. A. STEVENS 1,775,950

HEAT PROCESSING MCHINE FOR SHEETS AND BOARDS Filed All@ 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR @h/52206226 Sept.

16, 1930. J. A. STEVENS` A HEAT PROCESSING MACHINE FOR SHEETS AND BOARDS Filed Aug. 14l 1928 NvENToR' sept. 16, 1930. J. A. STEVENS l 1,775,950

HEAT PROCESSING' MACHINE FOR SHEETS ,AND BOARDS Filed A115 14, 1928 5 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR Z5 ATTORNEY S Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN A. STEVENS, F LGVIELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNR TO THE UPSON COMPANY,

GF LOCKPOR'I, NEVI YORK, A CORPORATON CF ITEN YGRK HEAT-PBOCESSIG DIANE-HNE FOR SEEE 'TS ANI) BOARDS My present invention relates to the manufacture of sheets, slabs, boards, and similar products, particularly when composed in whole or in part of material originally in the plastic state, and which requires an application of heat and pressure during its formative stage, and the invention has for its object to provide a simple, economical, etiicient and convenient machine for accomplishing lo this work. The improvements are directed in part toward the provision of opposed upper and lower heating elements, and more particularly to means for regulating the relationship between such elements so that they may cooperate properly to perform the work in hand. Y

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

.In the drawings:

Fig. l is a rather diagrammatic side view or outline view of the sheet forming machine showing the application thereto of heating and pressure elements constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the machine, partly broken away taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a'unit of the machine (adjoining units being shown broken away) being that view of the parts appearing in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the heating and pressing portion of the machine showing` the relationship of several units;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the gangs of upperA platens detached Fig. 6 is a sect-ion, broken away, through one of the pneumatic lifting cylinders, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several Vviews indicate the same parts.

Although its advantages and functions are not necessarily limited to such use, the present machine representing one embodiment or application of the invention, has been specially designed for the manufacture of a special wallboard, preferably composed of two outer paper facings, or liners, as they are called, and a cellular fire-resisting and insulating mineral body of substantial thickness therebetween. It has been discovered that a mii;- ture having as the principal ingredients sodium silicate and a iiller of iinely comminuted or powdered dolomitic limestone provides a suitable body between the paper walls for the purposes of producing such a product. Such a mixture is intumescent in character, and pus up into a cellular or sponge-like consistency when confined and subjected to a. proper degree of heat. It can later be hardened and dried and assumes a solid texture, in which state it is hard and relatively stift' without being brittle. My invention contemplates producing such a board continuously in a moving strip or sheet that is finely cut into lengths.

To first describe in general the mode of manufacturing such a. board in accordance with my invention, and assuming that a board with two facings or liners is to be made (though one j Vu' alone may be `used or none at all resulting in a` solid plastic product) I provide a supply of paper consisting of two strips which are brought together one upon another and a suitable amount of the plastic ma erial fed between them. This laminated mass is passed between a pair of upper and lower heated platens which presents smooth walls of considerable extent and whose separation regulates the thickness of the product. rFliese platens are heated by steam or otherwise, but if by steam, tien a. pressure of from to 200 pounds per square inch may b-e used, the speed of passage of the material between them being a factor in determining the steam pressure employed. From the platens the sheet passes in a formative and relatively soft state immediately into a closely adjacent hardening` oven where it is treated by direct contact with a heated gas. l prefer to use hot air. In this oven the sheet hardens and it becomes set sufficiently so that it can be manipulated without danger of injury or distortion. I am,

vthe hardening'tales Y I this oven aretheffeed rollers 12 suitably. driven, which pull the sheetV through all of therefore, able to place Yand do pla-ce just beyond-this hardening oven a feeding device preferably in the form otra" pairof driven feed rolls, which dra-w the'material all the -way `from 'its source, at the feed-end ot the' machine through the pl'atens, past af slitting and trimming device locatedv between the platens and the hardening oven,and through the hardening oven. `.lust beyond thev feed rollers the-sheet may besevered by suitable cutting device-into the desired lengths.V With Y. its manipulation `trom this point on this infrom a conventionallyshown hopper 4 be-V tween rollsyf and 6 beneath it; rlhe paper from roll2 passes over the top oitl roll 6 and thence around and under it in a reverse direction. The paper from roll passes over *5. and thence under roll 6 vcontinuing in the same direction, so thatl theplastic material is deposited in suitable quantities between Y the two liners X and Y, and is held between -them' asv the three-ply mass passes intoy the platensection.y v ,y y f The platens of this section are madeof a plurality of upperunits y7 and'lower units 8 spaced apart for the desired thickness; As

the. sheet emergesv as shown atXY from the end offtliis section, its edges are trimmed by suitable trimming 'devices 9, andit may be slit by vanother cutter indicated conventionally at l0 inF ig. 1 into two strips,itdesiied. Ity then immediately passes into the oven, where place. 3J ust beyond the travel above described to this point. s

' Lieisfbefore indicated, my invention is particularly concernedwith the construction, ailrangement, and manipulation ofthe platen `elements 'i'v and Srifelatively 'tof each other tolk regulate both the'thickness of the sheet or` boardfandl the amount of pressure applied. thereto. `Referring more particularly to Figs 2 and 3, the lower platens Sare laid side by side to present a substantially continuous table or undersurface. They extend transverselyof the machine and are supported at `their lends by projecting perforated-lugs 13 resting on. sleeves lll` surrounding uopstand-V` ing'` guide rods 11ia whichV pass through the lugs and whiclifguide vrodsgare suitably vad-V `justablybolted to theii'nain trainel by suitable lag andflocknuts' `15.l vThese under ,p'latens may be leveled and aligned by (means otshims Vor Vwashers'jplaced' beneath:Y the` -sleeves'lllp c 1,-' n These lower platen elements are vhollow and are maintained lat 'desired'v steam pressure 1 and-hence temperature Jfrom intakeY and eX- haust steam pipes l'and 17 to which they,vv

are respectively connected by individual flexsuitable soft or pliable metal. Y

` rllhe upper platens 7 are preferably slightly separated from each other'as shown and are arranged to be raised and lowered in parallelism with reference tothe table consti-' ible pipes 18 and 19iitted to suitable nipples y `20 and 21. lThese pipes may be made ot' any Y' tuted by the lowerfplatens 8..k For-this purpose they are made in sections, 'as best shown f in Figs. Sand 5'. Asindicated in the latter ligure thereare inthe presentinstance four platens toa unit, and they are lconnected toeo f gether by a pair of relatively transverse -beams22 lbolted thereto at 23. Connecting these I-bams at V:an intermediate bali ancing point ris a cross beam 24 provided with va central lifting` eye 25 forthe attachment of raising and-lowering connections, hereinafter described.- j l Y y j These upper vplatens 7 are similar to the lower platens Sfexcept that they are, of course,

finished ol on the lower side instead of the I upper side. They are provided with perforated lugs 26 at vtheir ends which also en-` gage over andare adaptedto slide vertically upon the guide rods lila. Above the lugsl?) .of the lower platen are provided sleeves 27 on theirod'up'onwhich rest compression coil springs28 surrounding the` rod and which in turnl support the lugs 26 of the upperr i platens 7. s These springs are of such Vtension as to support the weightof` theupper vglatens andV the upper platensccti'on at a minimumy degree ofseparationY romtheY lower platens 8, and again shiins may beused toregulate this separation yby.interposing them either. Y

between-the sleeves 27 andthe lower; platen i o lugs 13 or between the ends of the springs andl theirk abutting surfaces. lrpreer the@` latter position. ,f

VEach ot these upper pl'atens Z'fis connected l by preferably metallic flexible-intake Vand exhaust pipes 29 andSOj respectively with the steam intake and exhaust, lines land'l in tie `same manner as. the lower platens 8, cept thatthese pipes are'longer to Vgive he platen section about to bey described.y Y K Thisraising and low'V 'iglof the several' units is accomplished indiv-.dually bymeans of a pneumatielift.i Uprights 31 ontheinain Y lmangey andleI-:ibility necessary-tor the rais-' p ing and lowering'moveme'fnts ofltheuppertraine l supportv girde'rs `32'"coni'iected by bridge Vpieces at intervals centered'k over vided with aipet-co'clzfb'ieather 36 that' may alsobeused 'i'olr lubricating purposes..`

ysupported centgrallyj on each bridge piece is va cylinder '34 having-.a lieadB- (Fig. 6) propiston operating thiscylinder a connectiiigfrod operating'through vafsuitable N gland SQfandattached at its lower lenfdby a link 40 and bolt 4l with the lifting eye 25 of the platen unit on the cross beam 24 thereof. This link connection 40 provides a lost motion connection between the upper platen unit and the lifting mechanism whereby said unit may ride on its spring supports withoutaiiecting or suffering interference from the lifting mechanism.

An air line 42 runs the length of the inachine from which lead laterale lf-Eto the base of each cylinder 34 to admit and exhaust air under pressure beneath the pistons. Each lateral is provided with a three way valve conventionally shown at 44. In one position of this valve all ports are closed, as usual. In another position air is admitted to the lateral 48 to raise the pistons in the cylinders and hence lifting the platen unit to any dcsired extent, the same being guided to maintain a horizontal position on the rods 14a. A third position of the valve 44 closes the pressure line 42 and opens the laterale to the atmosphere at 45, whereby the compressed air is exhausted from the cylinders and the platen unit descends to again rest on the springs 2S.

By this arrangement and construction the platens may be raised at any point for cleaning and other purposes, and if any trouble occurs at any point in the travel of continuously forming sheet or board it may be quiclrly located and that particular unit raised to straighten out the difficulty, all with Very little effort on the part ot the operator.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a heat processingr machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element and means for drawing sheet material continuously between the same, of a spring support for the upper platen element to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element and means for raising and lowering the upper platen element onto and ot'f of said support.

2. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element and means for drawing sheet material continuously between the same, of a support for the upper platen element to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element and means for raising and lowering the upper platen element onto and off of said support, said means comprising a pneumatic cylinder, a piston operating therein and a piston rod attached to the upper platen element.

' 3. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element and ymeans for drawing sheet material continuously between the same, of a support for the upper platen element to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element and means for raising and lowering the upper platen element onto and off of said support,

said means comprising a pneumatic cylinder, a piston operating therein, a piston rod attached to the upper platen element, an air supply and a Valve connected with the latter to introduce and exhaust pressure to and from the cylinder.

4. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, of an upper platen element comprising a plurality of platens jointed together in units, a pair of beams so joining the platens of a unit, a cross beam connecting the lirst mentioned beams and raising and lowering mechanism for the unit connected to the cross beam.

5. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a frame, upper and lower platen elements supported on the fram-e in spaced relationship, a bridge beam spanning the frame, a pneumatic cylinder supported on the bridge beam, a piston operating therein and a piston rod attached to the upper platen for raising and lowering the same.

6. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element and means for drawing sheet material continuously between the same, of a spring support for the upper platen element to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element and means for raising and lowering the upper platen ielement onto and olin of said support, said means having a lost motion connection with the said upper platen.

7. In a heat processing machine for sheetsand boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element and means for drawing sheet material continuously through the same, of a support ior the upper platen element to maintain it in properly spaced relationship to the lower platen element, means for raising the upper -platen element onto and oli:1 of said support,

steam supply and exhaust lines and connections between each of said lines and the respective platen elements, those to the upper platen element being iexible.

8. In a. heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element, and a spring support for the latter to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element, of lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the upper platen element onto and off of said support.

9. In a heat processing machine for sheets and boards, the combination with a lower platen element, an upper platen element, and a spring support for the latter to maintain it properly spaced from the lower platen element, of lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the upper platen element onto and olic of said support, said lifting mechanismY having alost motion connectionwith the upper platen element. y

10. In a heat processinggmacliine lor sheets or boards, the combination of upper v and lower platens spaced apart to permit the sheets to t be continuously drawn therebe?V tween, means for supporting the platens` inl spaced relation at a predetermined distance i apart, guide means for one of, the platens permitting it to shift from said positionL in -sheets and boards, the-combinationwith a lower platen, of an uppen platen divided into al plurality olunits each independently movable toward and away from the lower Vplaten to vary the spacing between saidk platensvindependent elevating means for each of said upper platen units, said elevating means Yconfiprising va fluid pressure cylinder associated witheach unit, land means independent of jsaid platens'for drawing sheet material through the space between saidupper'and lowerplatens. Y

12.V In a heat processing ymachine for' sheets and boards, thecombination with a ,i Y lower platen, of YVan upperl platen divided' f into a plurality of units eaehvindependently movable toward and'away fromrthel'ower vplaten to vary the spacing 'between said platens, vindependent elevating means for each otsaid upper platenunits, saidelevatmg ymeans comprising a"f1mdpressure' cylinder' associa-ted witheach unit, control, f

1means adjacent eachunit for operating thev elevating means' associated with thatunit,l

, and means'independent of said platens or Y' r ce drawing sheet material through the space between said upper 'and lower plat-ens. Y Y "JOHN A. STEVENS." 

